Objectives set to unlock the potential of the Kashkadarya region, increase household incomes, and create jobs
Uzbekistan
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting focused on the socio-economic development of the Kashkadarya region.
At the beginning of his address, the Head of State congratulated the participants on the Day of the Uzbek Language. He specifically highlighted the contribution of Abdulla Oripov—a native of Kashkadarya, Hero of Uzbekistan, and author of the lyrics to the National Anthem—to the development of the Uzbek language.
"Yesterday, seeing the transformations taking place in the region’s cities, districts, and *mahallas* (neighborhoods), and witnessing the enthusiasm in the eyes of entrepreneurs, investors, and young people, I felt a tremendous surge of energy," the President remarked.
Just a few years ago, Kashkadarya was considered one of the regions facing the most challenging socio-economic conditions. Now, the goal has been set to eradicate poverty and unemployment in the region by the end of the year. Over the first nine months of this year, growth has been recorded in the industrial, service, and agricultural sectors. Nevertheless, these results do not yet fully reflect the region’s wealth of resources and human potential.
To ensure sustainable economic growth, it is essential to increase the production of finished goods with high added value within the region. The region’s reserves of natural gas, minerals, and energy resources must be leveraged toward this objective. The meeting addressed new projects at the GTL plant, the potential for producing polymers and petrochemicals from naphtha, the expansion of the Dekhkanabad Potash Plant, and the development of small-scale chemical production. Officials have been tasked with preparing a three-year program of projects with a total value of $20 billion, aimed at creating 50,000 jobs.
Efforts will also be directed toward developing local production around major industrial enterprises. To this end, six industrial clusters will be established in the region, and branches of the "Kashkadarya" Free Economic Zone will be opened. Initially, 250 billion soums will be allocated for the development of their infrastructure. Plans also include localizing the production of modern tractors and other agricultural machinery, as well as establishing the manufacturing of agricultural drones.
The implementation of industrial projects requires a reliable energy supply. Next year, a 300-megawatt solar power plant and an energy storage system—developed by the company "Masdar"—are scheduled to be commissioned in the region. Additionally, a project to generate electricity from waste is nearing completion in the Karshi district.
To ensure the transmission of electricity to consumers, tasks have been set to construct large substations in the Nishan and Kukdala districts and to complete a 245-kilometer-long power transmission line connecting Talimarjan and Sogdiana.
Agriculture also offers significant opportunities for increasing the population's income; this sector alone has the potential to provide additional earnings for 200,000 people. With the participation of the World Bank, and drawing on Egyptian expertise, there are plans to use drones to sow drought-resistant forage crops across 100,000 hectares of pastureland in eight districts, alongside the establishment of livestock complexes. In the Guzar district, 10,000 hectares of land will be brought into agricultural use and subsequently allocated to local farmers (*dekhkans*). Furthermore, Egyptian specialists will be brought in to assist in the development of an additional 30,000 hectares, which were identified through satellite data.
Expanding land use necessitates improvements to the water supply. Given the high cost of delivering water to the region's agricultural lands, plans for next year include lining 265 kilometers of canals with concrete and upgrading 20 water pumps. In collaboration with farmers, water-saving technologies will be implemented across 75,000 hectares. The initiative to create small-scale water reservoirs—successfully piloted this year—will be extended to five additional districts. Separate attention is given to providing the population with clean drinking water. The allocated funds will be used to complete the construction of 747 kilometers of water supply and sewage networks, as well as 43 infrastructure facilities, which will provide water to 200,000 people. Laying a water pipeline from the Gissarak Reservoir to the city of Karshi and its surrounding districts will improve the water supply for an additional 350,000 residents. The reconstruction of the Talimardjan–Mubarek system is intended to improve the water supply for 700,000 people across five districts.
To enhance transport connectivity, a 100-kilometer section of the A-380 highway passing through the region will be reconstructed with the participation of the Asian Development Bank. The Karshi bypass road will be linked to this main highway. Furthermore, modern overpasses will be built at two railway crossings—locations currently prone to traffic congestion whenever trains pass through.
It has been emphasized that the results of major projects should be tangible in every *mahalla* (neighborhood). For instance, in the *mahalla* of Chim in the Kamashi district, a school, a kindergarten, a polyclinic, a youth center, a sports complex, and a recreational park have been constructed. Most importantly, there are no longer any impoverished families or unemployed individuals in this area. By the next Independence Day, two modern *mahalla* centers, modeled after this example, will be established in every district. In the Mirishkor district, the focus will be on developing lemon cultivation, fish farming, and horticulture, alongside expanding the production of high-yield crops on leased land.
Supporting such initiatives also requires more effective performance from banks. Their operations will be evaluated based on the number of enterprises that receive financing and the subsequent growth of those businesses. When granting loans, banks are instructed to consider cash flow and the existence of firm orders, while also eliminating the requirement for entrepreneurs to provide excessive documentation.
The development of tourism also holds the potential to create new jobs. Since the beginning of the year, the Kashkadarya region has welcomed 2.5 million tourists, 500,000 of whom visited the village of Gelon. Plans are underway to launch the first phase of a ski resort there. Other mountain villages will focus on developing ethno-tourism, while the Shahrisabz district will see the promotion of rafting and sports tourism. Master plans are being prepared for six villages, with projects totaling $50 million set to be implemented.
To ensure that young people can take advantage of new employment opportunities, vocational training must be strengthened. Thirty-two instructors from the Technical College for Advanced Vocational Skills in Karshi, who completed professional development training in Germany, are now training their colleagues from 57 other technical colleges across the region. Students at this college receive a professional certificate alongside their secondary school diploma, with specialists from Germany teaching them foreign languages and technical subjects. Those responsible have been tasked with establishing a clear system for the vocational guidance of schoolchildren, in collaboration with technical colleges.
The achievements of students in the region were also highlighted. The Presidential School in Karshi achieved the best results in the country on Cambridge examinations, while the Abdulla Oripov School of Creative Arts won the "Zakovot" tournament. Murodjon Khalimov from Kasan scored a perfect 1,600 on the SAT exam. Starting next year, one school in every district will offer instruction in the exact sciences in a foreign language. Additionally, robotics clubs will be established in every district, with an annual championship held for students.
Future development in the region requires well-thought-out urban planning. A new city, "New Karshi"—designed to accommodate 500,000 residents—will be built at the junction of the city of Karshi and the Kukdala and Karshi districts. An "Ancient Nasaf" eco-complex will also be developed in the Karshi district. The master plan will be created with the involvement of prominent architectural firms, and the new areas will be developed according to "green" and "smart" city principles.
The "Kashkadarya model" for landscaping—which focuses on planting saplings and expanding green spaces—will be implemented in local neighborhoods (*mahallas*). Each year, leading up to the Navruz holiday, a "Greenest Mahalla" competition will be held.
The meeting concluded with reports from the regional and district governors (*hokims*), followed by a dialogue with regional representatives.
"Yesterday, seeing the transformations taking place in the region’s cities, districts, and *mahallas* (neighborhoods), and witnessing the enthusiasm in the eyes of entrepreneurs, investors, and young people, I felt a tremendous surge of energy," the President remarked.
Just a few years ago, Kashkadarya was considered one of the regions facing the most challenging socio-economic conditions. Now, the goal has been set to eradicate poverty and unemployment in the region by the end of the year. Over the first nine months of this year, growth has been recorded in the industrial, service, and agricultural sectors. Nevertheless, these results do not yet fully reflect the region’s wealth of resources and human potential.
To ensure sustainable economic growth, it is essential to increase the production of finished goods with high added value within the region. The region’s reserves of natural gas, minerals, and energy resources must be leveraged toward this objective. The meeting addressed new projects at the GTL plant, the potential for producing polymers and petrochemicals from naphtha, the expansion of the Dekhkanabad Potash Plant, and the development of small-scale chemical production. Officials have been tasked with preparing a three-year program of projects with a total value of $20 billion, aimed at creating 50,000 jobs.
Efforts will also be directed toward developing local production around major industrial enterprises. To this end, six industrial clusters will be established in the region, and branches of the "Kashkadarya" Free Economic Zone will be opened. Initially, 250 billion soums will be allocated for the development of their infrastructure. Plans also include localizing the production of modern tractors and other agricultural machinery, as well as establishing the manufacturing of agricultural drones.
The implementation of industrial projects requires a reliable energy supply. Next year, a 300-megawatt solar power plant and an energy storage system—developed by the company "Masdar"—are scheduled to be commissioned in the region. Additionally, a project to generate electricity from waste is nearing completion in the Karshi district.
To ensure the transmission of electricity to consumers, tasks have been set to construct large substations in the Nishan and Kukdala districts and to complete a 245-kilometer-long power transmission line connecting Talimarjan and Sogdiana.
Agriculture also offers significant opportunities for increasing the population's income; this sector alone has the potential to provide additional earnings for 200,000 people. With the participation of the World Bank, and drawing on Egyptian expertise, there are plans to use drones to sow drought-resistant forage crops across 100,000 hectares of pastureland in eight districts, alongside the establishment of livestock complexes. In the Guzar district, 10,000 hectares of land will be brought into agricultural use and subsequently allocated to local farmers (*dekhkans*). Furthermore, Egyptian specialists will be brought in to assist in the development of an additional 30,000 hectares, which were identified through satellite data.
Expanding land use necessitates improvements to the water supply. Given the high cost of delivering water to the region's agricultural lands, plans for next year include lining 265 kilometers of canals with concrete and upgrading 20 water pumps. In collaboration with farmers, water-saving technologies will be implemented across 75,000 hectares. The initiative to create small-scale water reservoirs—successfully piloted this year—will be extended to five additional districts. Separate attention is given to providing the population with clean drinking water. The allocated funds will be used to complete the construction of 747 kilometers of water supply and sewage networks, as well as 43 infrastructure facilities, which will provide water to 200,000 people. Laying a water pipeline from the Gissarak Reservoir to the city of Karshi and its surrounding districts will improve the water supply for an additional 350,000 residents. The reconstruction of the Talimardjan–Mubarek system is intended to improve the water supply for 700,000 people across five districts.
To enhance transport connectivity, a 100-kilometer section of the A-380 highway passing through the region will be reconstructed with the participation of the Asian Development Bank. The Karshi bypass road will be linked to this main highway. Furthermore, modern overpasses will be built at two railway crossings—locations currently prone to traffic congestion whenever trains pass through.
It has been emphasized that the results of major projects should be tangible in every *mahalla* (neighborhood). For instance, in the *mahalla* of Chim in the Kamashi district, a school, a kindergarten, a polyclinic, a youth center, a sports complex, and a recreational park have been constructed. Most importantly, there are no longer any impoverished families or unemployed individuals in this area. By the next Independence Day, two modern *mahalla* centers, modeled after this example, will be established in every district. In the Mirishkor district, the focus will be on developing lemon cultivation, fish farming, and horticulture, alongside expanding the production of high-yield crops on leased land.
Supporting such initiatives also requires more effective performance from banks. Their operations will be evaluated based on the number of enterprises that receive financing and the subsequent growth of those businesses. When granting loans, banks are instructed to consider cash flow and the existence of firm orders, while also eliminating the requirement for entrepreneurs to provide excessive documentation.
The development of tourism also holds the potential to create new jobs. Since the beginning of the year, the Kashkadarya region has welcomed 2.5 million tourists, 500,000 of whom visited the village of Gelon. Plans are underway to launch the first phase of a ski resort there. Other mountain villages will focus on developing ethno-tourism, while the Shahrisabz district will see the promotion of rafting and sports tourism. Master plans are being prepared for six villages, with projects totaling $50 million set to be implemented.
To ensure that young people can take advantage of new employment opportunities, vocational training must be strengthened. Thirty-two instructors from the Technical College for Advanced Vocational Skills in Karshi, who completed professional development training in Germany, are now training their colleagues from 57 other technical colleges across the region. Students at this college receive a professional certificate alongside their secondary school diploma, with specialists from Germany teaching them foreign languages and technical subjects. Those responsible have been tasked with establishing a clear system for the vocational guidance of schoolchildren, in collaboration with technical colleges.
The achievements of students in the region were also highlighted. The Presidential School in Karshi achieved the best results in the country on Cambridge examinations, while the Abdulla Oripov School of Creative Arts won the "Zakovot" tournament. Murodjon Khalimov from Kasan scored a perfect 1,600 on the SAT exam. Starting next year, one school in every district will offer instruction in the exact sciences in a foreign language. Additionally, robotics clubs will be established in every district, with an annual championship held for students.
Future development in the region requires well-thought-out urban planning. A new city, "New Karshi"—designed to accommodate 500,000 residents—will be built at the junction of the city of Karshi and the Kukdala and Karshi districts. An "Ancient Nasaf" eco-complex will also be developed in the Karshi district. The master plan will be created with the involvement of prominent architectural firms, and the new areas will be developed according to "green" and "smart" city principles.
The "Kashkadarya model" for landscaping—which focuses on planting saplings and expanding green spaces—will be implemented in local neighborhoods (*mahallas*). Each year, leading up to the Navruz holiday, a "Greenest Mahalla" competition will be held.
The meeting concluded with reports from the regional and district governors (*hokims*), followed by a dialogue with regional representatives.
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